Gentle Digest provides a source of beneficial intestinal bacteria and helps encourage their growth. All mammals have numerous beneficial bacteria living in their digestive tracts, including humans. Animals provide food and a warm home for these bacteria, and in exchange the bacteria help us digest our food, absorb nutrients, and eliminate toxic substances. Pets naturally eat fresh raw food, which provides such beneficial bacteria. Therefore, pets eating any type of pet food or cooked food may suffer from a lack of this beneficial bacteria.